Jonathan Quick Comes Home, Helps A Good Cause

Hamden Youth Hockey Players Part Of Fundraiser For Late Coach

HAMDEN — Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick said he owes a lot of his success to his late youth hockey coach, Jason Pagni. On Sunday, at Hamden High's Joseph Bruno Field, the Stanley Cup champion goaltender tried his best to return the favor.

Less than a month removed from his second championship in three seasons, Quick held a private Stanley Cup viewing fundraiser for Hamden Youth Hockey players and their families. The event raised money for the Gabriella & Madelyn Education Fund, established for Pagni's daughters following his death in a one-car crash in North Haven on Jan. 31.

"He's one of the best guys I ever met," Quick said. "He's very special to me, I've known him for a long time and he was very special to a lot of hockey players that he coached or played with. I think there are a lot of guys that grew up in this area that he taught who are succeeding on the professional level, the college level. They all owe a lot to him. I was very fortunate to be able to meet him, spend time with him and call him my friend. It means a lot to be able to try to give back to everything he's given to me."

Those who took a picture with Quick and the Stanley Cup gave $20 donations to the education fund. Hamden police estimated the crowd to be 2,000 people and the event raised $5,113, according to Quick's wife, Jaclyn.

"Obviously it means a lot," he said. "I grew up in this town. Just to be surrounded by the guys you grew up with, guys from my street that I've known my whole life, to enjoy it and share it with them, it's something special."

Quick grew up in Hamden and began his high school career at Hamden High, before finishing at Avon Old Farms and eventually playing at UMass. Quick made his NHL debut for Los Angeles in 2007, and in 2012, led the Kings to their first Stanley Cup title. In the 2014 playoffs, Los Angeles beat the team Quick grew up rooting for, the New York Rangers, in five games for the Stanley Cup title.

"It's special," Quick said. "It's something that doesn't happen very often. I think it's great the kids were able to check it out and get a picture with it, it's something they'll remember for a long time, hopefully give them something to strive for as players and something to look forward to and try to do."

Hamden High senior goalie Logan Cathey followed the Kings' championship run and was happy to meet Quick.

"It was really cool," he said. "He just told me best of luck, have fun and work hard. Personally it makes me want to work harder, hopefully do what he did. It's just really cool to see him, that he went to Hamden, that's where I'm going and play where he played."

Quick, wearing a gray T-shirt and a black hat that matched the black cast on his right wrist from surgery on June 24, exchanged pleasantries with each fan before posing for a picture. The wrist injury, sustained during the playoffs, prevented Quick from signing autographs but didn't stop him from shaking hands and taking selfies with fans.

The majority of youngsters wore their Hamden Youth Hockey apparel, but many fans donned Kings gear. Quick complimented those wearing his jersey, and quipped "wrong shirt" or "maybe next year" to the many Rangers fans who posed for pictures with him and the Cup. Mitch Montaine, a center for Hamden's bantam team, wore a Rangers hat and attended the event with his father, David.

"He figured since Jon Quick grew up in Hamden that he was either a Rangers fan or a Bruins fan himself," David Montaine said. "He figured that he would not only show support by coming out and seeing him, but also wearing a Rangers hat, and letting him know that this is Rangers country."

Hamden's Ray Sargolini, a Kings fan since the Wayne Gretzky era, attended the event with his young sons Brandon Brody, who both play hockey.

"It means so much for the Hamden hockey kids," Ray said. "To see him with the Cup here, that they can do something like this, too, it makes it much more real to them."